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  4. Summer 2001
  5. Wheat from Chaff: Meta-analysis as Quantitative Literature Review

Journal of Economic Perspectives

ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)

Wheat from Chaff: Meta-analysis as Quantitative Literature Review

  • T. D. Stanley
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 15, no. 3, Summer 2001
(pp. 131–150)
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Abstract

This paper presents and develops a quantitative method of literature reviewing and evaluating empirical research, meta-regression analysis or MRA. Economics is theory-driven. Yet, we must learn empirically if economics is to advance. MRA offers a more objective statistical method to summarize our empirical knowledge and to explain the wide study-to-study variation in economic research. MRA is used to assess the evidence for Ricardian equivalence, and its findings are contrasted to those of conventional narrative review. Furthermore, MRA establishes a platform from which to distinguish genuine empirical effect from the exploitable specification error that infests applied econometrics.

Citation

Stanley, T, D. 2001. "Wheat from Chaff: Meta-analysis as Quantitative Literature Review." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15 (3): 131–150. DOI: 10.1257/jep.15.3.131

JEL Classification

  • A14 Sociology of Economics
  • B41 Economic Methodology
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